Life of Riley: Get up, start over

St. Francis Xavier University president Sean Riley learned a great deal after his stroke last spring. (AARON BESWICK / Truro Bureau)

ANTIGONISH — Last spring, Sean Riley got decked by life.

The president of St. Francis Xavier University had a stroke.

“Initially, doctors thought I would be a long-term-care patient,” Riley said on Wednesday.

So began the educator’s re-education.

Lesson 1: A man’s will may drive his body, but remains at its mercy.

Riley wasn’t always 60 years old.

In 1974, he won the Governor General’s Award for highest academic achievement in his graduating class at St. F.X., along with outstanding male athlete and outstanding community volunteer.

A lifetime of overachieving followed, including a doctorate at Oxford University, high level positions in private industry and public service.

Then came the crown on an accomplished life. In 1996, he took over the reins of St. F.X.

During his tenure, the university has carried out an expansive building campaign. It also rose to be repeatedly selected by Maclean’s magazine as Canada’s top “primarily undergraduate university” from 2002 to 2006.

The man-made world is filled with mountains to scale and grand ideas with which to wrestle. It’s a noisy world that can drown out the steady tick of the clock inside of us that is constantly winding down.

Riley heard his clock tick on June 4, 2012, when his brain was suddenly starved of oxygen. Death or permanent disability was threatened by his stroke.

“You never expect it,” said Riley. “And a big part of (recovery) is getting over it.”

Lesson 2: Get back up.

“Everybody reacts to difficulty and disease in emotional terms,” said Riley. “And the main thing you’ve got to do is stay up.”

Riley took a leave from his role at the helm of St. F.X. and concentrated on his recovery.

Lesson 3: Learn to speak English.

The man who had excelled at communicating complex ideas in dialogue and debate was left speechless.